Electrical connection means



May 11, 1943. c,'s. PENFOLD ELECTRICAL C'ONNECTION MEANS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed oct. 11, '1941 IN VENTOR.

ELCTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Filed 001;.. l1, i941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' Patented May 11, 1943 I H. A. Bolilla! ,MIL C0.

poration of Michigan Bronson, Mich., a cor- Application October 11,1941, Serial No. 414,572

' 1 claims.

This invention relates generally to electrical .connectors known in the trade -as line connectors. for establishing Aa connection between two or more circuits, and more particularly' has to do v with connectors which are adapted to receive plug conductor terminals of the snap type.

One important object `of the linvention is to provide an improved connector consisting preferably of two innibers, one of which is in the form of a tubular sleeve of insulating material,

and the other in the form of a metallic Acircuit continuing member or insert which -is secured within the sleeve.

-One particular object of the invention lstl provide a connector of this general character, in which improved means are provided 'whereby to connect the two members together, this being preferably accomplished by the provision of a -plurality of longitudinally spaced apart resi-lient or yieldable portions on the insert which are adapted to cooperate with shoulders orY abutments provided within the sleeve.

Another object is to provide a better gripping V action upon the plugconductor terminals, and

at the same time increase the contact area between the terminals and insert. y

. A further object of the invention is to 4provide a connector in which either end of the insert showing an improved type ofinsert disposedl within a sleeve oi the character illustrated in Figure 1; l'

Figure 6 is a surface development ofA the in-4 sert shownin Figure 'Figure 'Ishows tlieinsert of Figure 6 rolled up Iinto the desired shape for entry into the sleeve;

Figure 'Bis athiid modicati'on 'of the invention, illustrating alongitu'dinal sectional view of another form of insert secured within an im proved type 'of sleeve of insulating material;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the insert shown inFigure 8;?

Figure 10 is a sectional view of theinsert taken substantially online l0- l0 of Figure 9;

Figure il is 'a fourth embodiment of the vinv'en'tion showing aper'spective view of a further form of insert adapted for assembly with the sleeve shown in Figures:-II

msy be inserted into either end or the sleev'e to a predetermined position whereupon the insert 'will snap into place.

, Other objects and-advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

This application is a continuation in part of my application, Serial No. 253,698, iiled January 50, 1939. E In the drawings accompanying this specificationl and forminga part of this application, there is shown for the purposes of illustration lseveral forms or modifications to which the 'present 1 invention is susceptible and referring prieily thereto:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal secticnal view 0f' the first lembodiment of the invention. illustrating an assembly, including a circuit continuing meniber or insert disposed within asleeve:

Figure 2 is an end view of the assembly illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a surface development of the insert shown in Figure l;

:Figure12 is a transverse section of the insert taken substantially, on 1i' e I2-I2 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a perspective view Ashowing a iifth, modiiication of the invention, of a still further form of insert adapted for assembly with the sleeve in .Figure 8:

Figure 14 is a transverse section taken substantially on line I L-Il of Figure 13; and Figure 15 illustrates a detail respecting the detente associated; with the inserts above referred to.

`Referring toV Figures 1 through 4 of the drawings whereinthe rst embodiment of the invention is clearly llll'strated, numeral I represents an outer tubular body or sleeve member oo nstructed of some suitable insulating material and 2 represents a metallic circuit continuing memlier or insert which is also preferably tubular in form. v t r- The insert is provided with resilient portions forming generally tubular receptacles generallyv when'terminals are properly lsecured to the circuit continuing member or insert member 2 that the ends of the sleeve member project beyond the plug conductor terminals so as to prevent the terminals from coming into contact with some metallic object to ycause a short circuit.

YThe sleeve! of insulating material is prefer- 'ably rigid in character and provided with an elongated generally cylindrical -aperture or opening 6. Each extremity of the sleeve is preferably provided with an inwardly extending generally cylindrical recess or countersink 1 which communicates with the aperture ,6;. The recesses/I are preferably of a size greater than the diameter of the opening 6 whereby to provide a pair 'of abutmentsor shoulders 8 for a purpose which will be described later.

the Wing sections extend outwardly in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the insert, and are formed by the cut-outs or notches I4 provided substantially midway in the longitudinally extending marginal edges of the insert.

It is of course immaterial whether lthe notches I4 are of the particular character shownsince the respective pairs of sections might be separated by real narrow slits o'rkerfs. Each ofthe wing sections is preferably divided into a plu-f rality of portions, and these will be described inl detail later. y

When the development in Figure 3 is fashioned or formed into the desired shape as illustrated in Figure 4, the-pair of wingsections I 'and yI I form the terminal receptacle generally designated 4, and the sections I2 and I3 the terminal receptacle generally designated 3.

The improved means for locking the circuit continuing member or`insert with respect to the outer body or sleeve of insulating material will now be considered. Each' of the wing sections I0 through I3 is preferably provided with a locking portion/or finger which is adapted. to cooperate with or otherwise'engage one of the abutments or shoulders 8 provided in the sleeve I. The wing sections In and II are provided with oppositely disposed'locking portions or fingers I5 and I3, respectively, and the sections I2 and I3, with lockingportions I'I and I8, respectively'.` More specincally,1each extremity of the insert is provided with a pair of yieldable portions or fingers sert intoeither end of the sleeveso that the i Alocking portions adjacent the extremity of the insert that is being inserted are contracted as Insofar l, as this invention is concerned,jit is to be dis# the insert is pushed into the' opening 6, and when the locking portions at the other extremity engage one of the shoulders 8, the contracted portions will expand or snap outwardly to substanti'aily; engagethe other shoulder 8 whereby to lock the members together, without the assistance of special tools. Due to the fact that the locking portions `are preferably tapered the insert may be easilypiloted into the sleeve, because the tapers assist in'gradually compressing or contract'ing either pair'of locking portions 'or finy sleeve in order to permit the operator4 to more l easily pilot and force the insert into the sleeve to compress the looking portions.'l It will also be appreciated that the provision of -a pair of l each receptacle, for the reason that if one tongue adjacent each receptacle should become damaged or accidentally broken oil', there is still left an auxiliary finger on each receptacle for locking the insert and sleeve together. -It is to be distinctly understood that the locking tonguesfl 8 through I8 which act to hold the insert within the sleeve I -of insulating material maybefde'- signed and constructed in ajmanner whereby'i. either of the pair of locking tongues. may'be pressed outwardlyto lock the insert in placeinA lieu of providing'a snap-in construction. l l

As mentioned above, one object of theabove invention is to provide improved means for in' `creasing the contact area between the plug con- 1 ductorfterminals and the insert, and this is pref- 'f which project outwardly in a direction transeach other, including the receptacles 3 and 4,-

and the portions are preferably tapered-to some insert into the sleeve. -The -grain of the metal preferably runs transverse to the longitudinal axis ofthe insert and consequently the insert is very-durable, there being very little likelihood, that the locking portions or other portions of the receptacles will break on.

To assemble the insert with the sleeve, it is merely necessary to insert either end of the inerably accomplished by providing each of the re ceptacles 3 and 4 with a plurality of yieldable more or less independently operable terminal bearing portions which are adapted to cooperate with and engage the plug conductor terminals.'

As clearlyillustrated in Figure 3, the wing sec tions I0 and II are provided with oppositely disposedtongue portions 20 and 2|, respectively, and

against the nose of frusto-conical entrance porextent as illustrated so as to assist in piloting the tions 2l of the terminals l, as clearly illustrated: in Figure l. In view of the fact that the terminal' bearing portions 20 through 23 are interned, sufficient clearance must be provided,- and accordingly these portions are preferably of a lengt'h somewhat less than the length of the locking finf gers I8 through I8. .l In view of the foregoing, it will be evident that by reason of the slots or kerfs- I8 and 24, a yieldable terminal bearing portion 23 is provided intermedia'te the locking finger and terminal bearing portion formed on each of the wing sections III through Il. The bearing portions 2l are def signed to bear against the central portion of the plug conductor terminals, as evidenced in Figure. l, and constitute the major parts of the receptacles 3 and 4. In other words, the bearing portions through 23 are auxiliary `or supplemental to the main portions 26 of the receptacles. Thus, the insert is `provided with at least four resilient terminal bearing portions adjacent each extremity. Obviously, if found desirable, someof these portions may be omitted, or additional portions may be provided.

Means are provided assisting to retain the plug conductor terminals to the receptacles. 'I'his in' part, is preferably accomplished by a. pair of detents generally designated 21 provided on the insert 2. Each detent is preferably formed by first striking out of the central body portion 9,V an

Aaperture 28 preferably rectangular in shape, and

then deforming a marginal edge thereof to provide a convex taperedprojection or arris extending into each of the receptacles. The detents are preferably located between the terminal bearing portions 25 on the marginal edges of the apertures 28 which face each other, and as clearly illustrated in Figures l and l5 the arris 29 of each projection or detent is adapted to cooperate with the wall defining the cove or deten't groove 30 provided in the terminal 5.` Obviously, the detents may be otherwise disposed.

disposed at a predetermined location on the insert and a plurality of yieldable locking ngers 65 at another predetermined location,in spaced' apart relation with respect to the plurality of flngers 5I. These fingers are preferably locatel.'along4 the longitudinal marginal edges of the insert as clearly illustrated, and are'formed by suitable cut-outs. These locking fingers project outwardly-with reference to theremainder of the insert Y and converge toward each other.

Referring now to the second embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 5 through 'l of the drawings, it will be apparentv that the sleeve 50 of insulatingmaterial and the insert 5I are constructed substantially' the same as the sleeve and insert illustrated in Figures 1 through 4 of the drawings, except that the insert is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending terminal bearing tongues in lieu of the plurality of transverse tongues 20 through 23 employed in the first embodiment of the invention. More'.

specifically, each of the wing sections is provided with a longitudinally extending flexible tongue i 52 adjacent itslongitudinal marginal edge. /The which the invention is susceptible, it will be apparent that the connector includes a sleeve member 60 which is of a rigid character and substantially corresponds to the sleeve member of the first twoV embodiments of the invention, except that the, longitudinal aperture is restricted more or lessdirectly at the center by an annular rib 6| which projects into'the aperture to provide a pair of abutments or shoulders 52. The shoulders 62 are preferably arranged at an an angle in order to provide inset seats which will better receive the locking portions provided on the insert. The insert 53 is generally cylindrical and tubular in form and is provided with plug conductor receptacles. receptacles of this embodiment are not independently movable with respect to each other tothe extent that the receptacles are operable in the It will be noted that the v and at the same time the plug conductor terminal 4receptacles are arranged substantially in concenrst two embodiments, but of course, they may 'be modified as desired. The insert is locked in The insert 63 may be assembled with the sleeve 60 by inserting either end ofthe insert 'intoj either. end of the aperture in thesleeve to the Y position illustrated in Figure 8. If, for instance,

the insert is inserted from the right to the left into the sleeve the fingers 65 will be contracted or pressed inwardly of the insert as the insert is passed through the restricted opening 65 defined by the rib 6l, and whenthe free extremities of the lockingvfingers 64 engage the seat formed by the rib, the locking fingers 65 will snap out- -wardly to substantiany engage the other abutmentor seat. It will be noted that the portions of the insert opposite the .locking fingers are pressed against the rib so that there is no likelihood of vibration between the insert and sleeve,

tric vrelation with respect to the aperture in the sleeve. l'll'his fact is rather important for the reason that the insert may float sufliciently to better accommodate the plug conductor terminals. f

Moreover, it is to be particularly noted that the locking lingers 64 and 65 are slightly curved transversely, on a radius vsubstantially corresponding to the radius of the insert. rllhis strengthens the fingers and causes'the extremities of the fingers to more or lessI take the curvature of the aperture in the sleeve 60 and thereby -better cooperate with the inset seats 62. Obviously, any number of locking fingers may be provided on the insert, and if found desirable the locking fingers may be -bent manually outwardly by the application of suitable tools into provided in the engagement with the abutments sleeve, instead of making the fingers of a character whereby the insert may be snapped into assembly with the sleeve or insulator. t The fourth embodiment of the invention disclosed inFigures 1l and 12, includes an insert 1D adapted for connection with a sleeve of the character illustrated inFigure 8. The insert 10 is somewhat. similar to the inserts abovel described, and is provided with plug conductor ter- -minal receptacles 1 I and 12. The receptacle 1I is provided with a longitudinally extending continuatlon adjacent its inner extremity to form,

alocking fingern, and the receptacle 12 is `provided with a similar finger 14. These. fingers are' provided adjacent one of the longitudinal mar'- ginal edges of the insert and project outwardly in converging relation, in .substantially the same manner as the locking'iingers 64 and B5 in the third embodiment of the invention. These fingers are formed asa result of the cut-outs 15. 'I'he insert is also provided with a cut-out 18 along the longitudinal marginal edge of the insert opposite the locking fingers 13 and 14 whereby to assist in making the receptacles more yieldable. The central part of the insert apart from its longitudinal meeting edges, and substantially directiy opposite to the locking fingers 13 and 14 isI -tudinally extending yieldable locking fingers l5 provided with locking fingers 1l and 18, formed by thecut-outs l! and 8u. The locking fingers 'Il and 18 project outwardly in converging relation, substantiay in thel same manner as the locking fingers I3 'and 14. The receptacles 1i and 12 are tied together by more or less oppositely disposed narrow connecting portions 8| and 82. The insert 10 is adapted to be snapped into the insulating sleeve 610 in substantially the same manner as thebther insert, so that the locking fingers 'Il and I8 wiliengage one of the annular seats 82, and fingers 'i3 and 11 will engage the other yannular seat. More specifically, it is to be noted in this embodiment that a space or recess is formed between theextremities of -the locking fingers I3 and 14, and between the locking fingers Hand 1B, and that the recesses formed thereby are adapted to receive the rib 6|'. In other words, atleast one side of the insert is provided with a recess which receives the rib,

=and a plurality of yieldable locking fingers press 1. VElectrical connection means including, an insulator having a hole therein, a lug on the insulator projecting into the hole, insert means insertable into either end of the hole and disposed in the hole providlngmeans to which a conductor may be secured, said insert'means being provided with a pair of longitudinally extendlng yieldable portions projecting at an angle with reference 'to the axis, of the member cooperating with and pressing against one side of said lug, and a pair of similar portions cooperating with the other side of said lug for holding the insulator and insert means assembled.

2. An electrical connector comprising a housing of insulating material provided with an opening extending therethrough, said opening being enlarged at its ends to form recesses joined by an tion to locking the insert to the sleeve 60, assist `vided with receptacles 9| and 92. Near the cen-` ter of the insertand intersecting one of its longitudinal marginal edges there is provided a cutout I3, and its other ;vlongitudlnal edge opposite the cut-out 93 is providedwith a cut-out 84. The cut-outs I3 and I4 include the relief notches 95. The insert is also provided with longitu-l dinally extending narrow cut-outs 88, spaced circum'ferentialiy andA parallel with respect to the cut-outs 03 and ll. the material between the cutouts beingfashioned to provide outwardly-extending yieldable locking fingers 91 and 9U, adjacent one side of the'insert, and similar locking fingers 0! and |00 adjacent the other side of the insert. These fingers are spaced apart and their extremities are adapted to cooperate with the seats 62 in the insulator Il substantially in the same manner as the fingers in the third and fourth embodiments of the invention. Attention is directed to the fact that the locking fingers Il through IN are spaced predetermined distances from the longitudinal marginal meeting edges of the insert, or more specifically, at the sides of each terminal receptacle. 4By this arrangement, the yieldal'ilel locking tongues function .to press the side walls of the receptacles toward each other, to thereby bettergrip the plug conductor terminals. i

In view of the foregoing description, it will'be evident that improved means have been provided insert is being intermediate restricted portion, the base of each recess forming with the restricted portion a shoulder means, insertmeans disposed substantially entirely within the confines of said opening and said recesses, spaced apart means provided on4 said insert means for receiving conductor means, one of said spaced apart means being generally of split tubular form, and the other spaced apart means being comprised of flexible portions between which a plug conductor terminal is adapted to be projected, a pair of yieldable portions provided adjacent the sides of said generally tubular comit lctor receiving means projecting into one recewhereby to engage one of said shoulder means for holding the insert means against movement in one direction and functioning to urge the sides of the tubular part toward each other, and a yieldable portion provided adjacent one of `lsaid ilexibie portions of said plug conductor terminal receiving means projecting into the other recess and engaging the other shoulder means whereby to lock the insert means in place and against movement in another direction, lat, least one of the said .yieldable portions being adapted to snap into position when the insert means is inserted into the housing.

3. An electrical connector comprising a housing of insulating material'provided with an open- -ing extending therethrough, said opening beingV enlargedat its ends to provide recesses joined by an intermediate restricted portion, the base of each recess forming with the restricted portion a shoulder means, an insert disposed in s'aid opening and recesses, spaced apart means provided on the insert for receiving conductor terminals, each of'said spaced apart means comprising a pair of walls which walls are engaged e by the terminals, a first pair of longitudinally extending resilient portions of said insert ldisposed adjacent marginal edges of said spaced apart means and operable independently there' of projecting into one recess to engage one of said shoulder means, and a second similar pair of similarly disposed portions adjacent the other receiving means projecting into the other recess and engaging the other shoulder means whereby whereby an insert member may be easily and l i quickly connected to an insulator member.

Having thus described my invention, it isobvious that various modifications may be made inthe same without departing from the spirit of the invention; and, therefore, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact forms, constructions, arrangements, and combinations of parts herein shown and described. ii

I claim: Y A

toV lock the insert in place,v at least one of said resilient portions being so constructedA and arranged that the same is caused to snap into cooperation with said other shoulder means when the insert is inserted into the housing.

4. Electrical connection means including, a

generally tubular insulator provided with abut` ment means therein, anv insert means insertable into either end of the insulator and providing means to which a conductorjnay be secured thereto disposed in said innilatox, laid insert means also having a cutout receiving said abut-A ment means, and yieldable means provided on said insert means fun'ctioning to hold said abutf ment means within said cutout for locking the insert within the insulator, said yieldable means being so constructed and arranged that said insert means may be snapped'into said insulator.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 in which: the insert means is generally of a split tubular character 'to form at least a pair of longitudinally extending wall portions which are ada'pted'to receive between them plug conductor terminals of the snap type; and the yieldable means is fashioned to leave a space 'therebetween which space constitutes the cutout in the insert means.

8. The structure set forth in claim 4 in which: the insert means is generally ofa split tubular character to form at least a pair of longitudinally extending wall portions which are adapted to receive between them plug conductor terminals of the snap type; the yieldable means includes a rst pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending locking portions disposed adjacent one Y they are introduced Y l 5 marginal edge defining the split in the insert means and a second pair of corresponding locking portions adjacent the other marginal edgedciining the split; and the said lockingportions are disposed to engage the said abutment means.

'7. The structure set forth in claim 4in which: the insert means is generally of a split tubular character to form at least a pair of longitudinally extending wall portions which are adapted to receive between them plug conductor terminals of the snap type; the yieldable means includes a rst pair of longitudinally', spaced apart locking portions and a second pair of locking portions corresponding to` and disposed substantially diametrically opposite said rst pair in the 

